The Antidote

Spotty

I really do feel compelled to share my latest little bargain today as I know there will be a like minded knitter/crocheter out there who will appreciate this.  This perfect wool stashing bag was snapped up at the weekend from Primark for a mere £6.

It is so right for carting my yarn around to my knitting groups and zips up to stop my sisters puppy dragging everything out.  There are just the right amount of pockets for notebooks and a little mobile phone pocket.  I think I prefer it to my Cath Kidston knitting bag, there is more room and no need to fold books and patterns.

Whilst I have issues with some of the ethics of these bargain shops,  Mrs K would happily charge me £50 for such an item.  I have issues with that too!

My new crochet bag is perfect and I love it so.  Go buy.

Smoky

Last week, I shared my new blanket project.  I thought this week I ought to share a little peep at how it is progressing.  I am rather in love with it.  Not only do I delight in encapsulating my muted little circles in soft silvery grey squares, I am also enjoying the joining as you go method, along with catching in the ends  as I go, which will both save a lot of heartache in six months time!  I am in no hurry to finish this blanket, but am quite happy to hook a square or two a day whilst immersing myself in other projects, including a Nanny Mcphee, which I will share next next week.

The picture isn't great, but then neither is the light at the moment.  A perfect day to light a fire and have another cup of tea.

Grey

I am rather hoping that my little stash which I shared last week will yield two lovely blankets.  I know that there will not be enough yarn for two blankets, but the palette will be shared between two very different projects.

I completely adore grey, and plan to paint the living room this colour.  Painting a room takes a lot less time than crocheting a blanket, so I thought I would give myself a head start.

I like my living space quite muted, with my family providing the colour, but I also like a peaceful and restful room which is both comfortable and tasteful.  One of my blankets will cosy up a leather sofa in this room.

I loved the other blanket which is not yet finished (ahem!) and wanted to do a similar one, but this time sashed in beautiful Shale Grey by Rowan.  Sumptuous grown up colours bound together with an elegant grey border.  I love it with all my heart!

Some of the little circles appear random and clashing in shades until they are joined with woollen clouds of smoke.

As I said in my last post, the dusky dove grey days of January make it a challenge to take photos, but I think my little circles both benefit from, and are complemented by the murky light.

 

Stash

I have been meaning to share my little Christmas present to myself all year, where did that three weeks go?  I got a little bit of money as a gift from my in-laws, and spent the whole lot on lovely yummy pure wool DK.

I have since added to this little stash and have a rapidly diminishing little bag of loveliness.  My little stash is evolving happily into two very different blankets, the first of which I will share before the end of the week, a cushion cover for a special girls birthday - is it weird to give a nine year old a cushion cover as a gift? and one or two little secrets.

I hope to replace yarn as I use it and create my own never ending stash of DK, what I am really enjoying is using the same yarn to create very different projects

Lack of posts lately are not only due to bumped heads, bad weather etc, but there is hardly ever any decent light for good photos, I'll bet I am not alone in this predicament, Blogland does seem rather quiet lately.

Snow Wool

I couldn't resist using today's fresh blanket of snow as a backdrop for my newest addition to my little stash.  I promise to show and tell more soon.

Broken Rules

When I started my latest WIP, I made a few rules to adhere to.  One of them  was to both join the squares together and sew in the ends as I went along.  I have failed miserably.  Now I know that the UK postal strikes have been blamed for unpaid bills and forgotten birthdays, but I maintain that these strikes are the reason for these piles which are all over my house.

To explain further, this blanket is literally GUZZLING Rowan Pure New Wool in Enamel and Frost.  I source most of my yarns on line and it is just not arriving as quickly as I am hooking it.

Thankfully, my stash is replenished and at the moment, my wool supply can be maintained.  And, on the plus side, my other rule was to finish this project in three months and for once I seem to be on track....postal strikes permitting!

Time for a Nap

Thank you so much for your sweet comments about my blanket.  You are so kind and encouraging and your praise is valued.

I have been hooking away hard on my latest project and hope to share some pictures of it later on in the week.  I love the way that memories are worked into crochet projects, often nothing momentous or otherwise memorable, maybe just repeatedly being asked who my favourite Batman baddie is, or of Ivy and Biba vying for the closest position to me on the sofa whilst watching "Strictly".

I have also been working far too hard and missing too much sleep, so I am going join Biba and catch up on a few Zzzzzz's this week.

The Reveal

Here it is, at last!

 

Six months of delicious work, and lots of lovely Rowan Wool/Cotton, I am soooooo proud!

Many of you have been so encouraging and enquiring about this project and it has taken me almost two weeks to take and post these pictures.

 
 

This is my first attempt at crochet, you may remember that I am self taught, from this book.  In addition to this I have also scrutinised other blogs to extend my knowledge and skills, and while I still have a way to go, I am rather pleased with my blanket.

I have affectionately nick named this my "Bauer Blankie", as I hooked away happily whilst watching the first six seasons of 24.  This was of course accompanied with a "Dexter" edge!  I am now enjoying Season 3 (Dexter) whilst snuggled under it, with Season 7 (24) on it's way this week, what a way to spend these cool October nights.

As I tidied my blanket up for these pics I noticed it is already smeared with chocolate (I am blaming the babies!) but then bunny cuddling and tea drinking is just what it is meant for!

Sneak Peak

Just a quick little hello today.  I know I promised a "show and tell" of my completed blanket in my last post, but I have been working like crazy this last week.  I think tonight will clock me up around 80 hours in the last week (poor me) in addition to that, they are all night shifts, and I sleep very little in the days in order to be around for the children.  I am sooooo tired!

In the meantime, just to whet your appetite, a little peak at my new project.  And of course a promise that I will very soon show my blanket, and give a little more detail of this new lovely hookiness.

All Finished

My beloved blanket is finally finished.  It took ages, but I am so pleased with it.  I have not yet taken any photos of it, because they have to be just right, but I will do a final "reveal" very soon.

In the meantime a little peak at my new yarn stash.  I have been collecting this slowly (wool is so expensive) over the last few weeks, and was quite suprised at how much I had when I looked last night.

My next project will definately have squares in circles, which are so popular at the moment and will have a lighter more bedroomy feel to it.  I will also be using Pure Wool (Rowan) instead of the Wool Cotton mix which I have used in the last blanket.

I am enjoying the planning of this project and am constantly scanning the "interweb" (my children and Stuart's term) for inspiration.  I am looking forward to my "reveal" and also to sharing my new project x